Hark now! – hear the cheering,

But hush now! – just awhile,

I sense the greats of yesteryear

Such legends – oh what tales!

THREE great jockeys dominated Irish racing for much of the first half of the 20th century. Like the old ‘Paddy’ jokes, there was an Irishman (Joe Canty), an Englishman (Morny Wing) and Tommy ‘The Scotchman’ Burns.

Between them they won an astonishing 61 classics. As their careers were winding down, another illustrious rider, the supreme stylist Aubrey Brabazon came to the fore, being equally effective on the flat and over jumps.

Aubrey Brabazon: Unparalleled success under both codes

AUBREY Brabazon was born on January 7th, 1920 and served his time on The Curragh with J.T. (Jack) Rogers at Crotanstown while also being involved with his father, Cecil, at their home and stables at Ranger’s Lodge.

He rode his first winner in a five-furlong apprentice race at the Phoenix Park in August 1935 on a three-year-old filly named Queen Christina, trained by Bob Fetherstonhaugh for Colonel Giles Loder of Eyrefield Lodge.

The highlight of his flat career was Masaka’s 1948 Irish Oaks win for the Aga Khan and he also won the Irish 2000 Guineas in 1950 on Mighty Ocean.

Being entrusted with the ride on Masaka was true testimony to his skill as a rider. A high-class but temperamental filly who had already won the Epsom Oaks, Masaka needed careful handling and the Aga Khan, though he knew it meant putting up overweight, considered that there was none better for the job than Aubrey.

Over jumps he partnered many good winners for his father, the best of them the brilliant war-time ‘chaser St. Martin, one of his three Galway Plate winners, on whom he won 12 times and for long considered the best steeplechaser he ever sat on.

Cheltenham success

However, Aubrey will always be associated with the halcyon Cheltenham days of Vincent O’Brien, winning three consecutive Gold Cups on Cottage Rake between 1948 and 1950, and two consecutive Champion Hurdles on Hatton’s Grace in 1949-’50.

His feat of Champion Hurdle/Gold Cup/flat classic success in the one year (1950) is unparalleled and, it is safe to say, will never be repeated, and his Gold Cup/classic double of 1948 was only emulated by his great friend and rival, Martin Molony, with whom he shared the jockeys’ championship in 1946.

In 1951 Martin partnered the winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Silver Fame) and Irish 2000 Guineas (Signal Box).

In his highly entertaining autobiography, Racing Through My Mind Aubrey tells the story of himself, togged out in racing colours, and Vincent, having a stiff drink in the bar at Cheltenham to “steady the nerves” before going out to win the first of his Gold Cups!

Ranger’s Lodge

His last winning ride was on Flame Gun in a two-mile hurdle at Stratford on St Patrick’s Day 1970. Later in the year he hung up his saddle and took over the trainer’s licence from his then-ill father at Ranger’s Lodge.

Although he got off to a dream start in his new career with his first runner, Moonsun, winning over hurdles at Gowran Park in January 1971, like so many ex-jockeys, he had only limited success as a trainer. His son, Richard, now maintains the family tradition at the famous old yard which turned out so many good horses over the years under both Rules.

Aubrey, along with his brother-in-law, Paddy Harbord, was also a founder member and director of the Curragh Bloodstock Agency. Immensely popular and a man of whom it could be truly said, in the words of Rudyard Kipling, “walk with kings –nor lose the common touch”, Aubrey passed away on September 30th, 1996.

Morny Wing: Exceptional talent and the punter’s pal who endured tragedy

MORNY Wing was born in Doncaster on August 2nd, 1896. He served his time at Newmarket and was champion apprentice in 1915.

Having ridden successfully also in Spain and India, (five winners in one day at Calcutta), he arrived in Ireland in 1917.

In a career spanning almost 40 years (1911-1949) he rode over 2,000 winners and set records never likely to be equalled in Irish racing. Champion flat jockey 15 times– 10 consecutively – his 23 classic wins included six Irish Derbys, seven 1000 Guineas and seven St Legers.

Among his Derby winners was the unbeaten Windsor Slipper, one of only two horses to have won the Irish Triple Crown, and Rosewell, after whom he named his residence on the Curragh (now the home and training yard of Dermot Weld).

Regarded as one of the greatest jockeys ever to grace the Irish turf, his exceptional talents included being able to change his whip quicker than anyone else and his alacrity from the start, especially with two-year-olds and sprinters.

His fierce determination and 100% commitment to every ride –which could not, in all honesty, be said about some of his contemporaries – meant he was very much recognised as the punter’s pal.

The great tragedy of his life was the death of his son, Walter, a very promising rider, in a freak accident in India when aged only 17.

Morny Wing retired from the saddle in 1949 and trained initially at Rosewell and then close by at Loughbrown Lodge, adjacent to the racecourse. He did achieve classic success with Do Well in the 1951 St. Leger but his heart was never really in the training business and he handed over to his brother-in-law, Kevin Bell, after the 1952 season, moving to Naas where he died on May 4th 1965.

Tommy Burns: Remarkably successful man whose likes will not be seen again

TOMMY Burns, popularly known as ‘The Scotchman’ was born, one of 10 children, in Ayrshire, Scotland on February 11th, 1898.

He came from Irish stock as his grandfather was from Virginia in Co. Cavan and emigrated to Scotland during the Famine.

Tommy served his time with his father, James, and had his first ride at Ayr in July 1913 on his father’s First League, unfancied and down the field. It was a different story at Thirsk the following October when the same horse, this time well backed, supplied him with his first winner – and he didn’t stop riding winners for another 40 years!

He came to Ireland the year after when his father took up the position of training for Colonel Hall-Walker at Tully, Kildare (now the Irish National Stud).

He soon burst upon the Irish classic scene partnering–while still a teenager–successive winners of both the Oaks and St Leger in 1916-‘17, completing the double-double in the 1917 St Leger on the incredibly well-named Double Scotch.

He won the Derby on Raeburn in 1936, while Soldennis, in the inaugural running of the 2000 Guineas in 1921, was another of his 21 classic winners. His last classic-winning ride came in 1953, at the age of 55 in the 1000 Guineas, on Northern Gleam, in the process giving 26 years and a neck beating to his son, T.P. on the runner-up.

He also rode a number of winners over jumps, notably two Galway Hurdles.

Training career

Retiring from the saddle in 1954, he officially took out his training licence, although, in effect, he had been training to all intents and purposes for several years previously under the name of a friend, Barney Gallivan – a professional jockey being forbidden to hold a trainer’s licence at the same time.

No doubt, he would have carried on riding for longer, the switch being forced, ironically, through one of his most notable achievements which had epitomised both his riding and training skills but turned out a double-edged sword.

In a carefully planned operation, Tommy had aimed a good filly named Upadee at an ambitious target – Royal Ascot, no less.

With her light effectively hidden under a bushel in three previous undistinguished outings, the race chosen for her was the one-mile Queen Anne Stakes, and, under the consummate handling of The Scotchman, she prevailed by a neck to land the sweetest of touches at the rewarding odds of 100/7.

An announcement was made shortly afterwards requesting Mr. Bernard Gallivan, the trainer of Upadee, to report to the stewards’ room where an enquiry into the improvement in form was being held. Response came there was none.

Not altogether surprising as Mr. Gallivan would have been busy at that moment filling Mrs Murphy’s shopping bag in his grocery/pub establishment at the top of Main Street, Newbridge, to be followed, no doubt, by a celebratory drink in the bar.

The Irish Turf Club subsequently relieved Mr Gallivan of his trainer’s licence for failing to exercise proper supervision of the horses in his stable, so Mr. Thomas Burns became the new licence-holder at Lumville Manse!

Shrewd operator

In his new official role, he wasn’t long about making his name as one of the shrewdest operators in the game, a particularly satisfying achievement when turning out Upadee’s son, Vimadee to win the 1961 St Leger with T.P. in the plate – a fitting atonement for that 1953 defeat in the 1000 Guineas!

After a truly exceptional career spanning 75 years, this remarkable man – jockey, trainer and raconteur par excellence – finally called it a day in 1988 and passed away in the Drogheda Memorial (Jockey) Hospital, next door to his home at Lumville, at the venerable age of 93 on February 26th, 1991. His likes will not be seen again.

T.P. also achieved great fame as a jockey, sharing notable success with Vincent O’Brien including the master trainer’s first English classic success with Ballymoss – on whom he also won the Irish Derby – in the St. Leger at Doncaster in 1957.

T.P. headed the combined flat/jumping list three times during the 1950s.

Joe Canty: Outstanding personality and record-breaker

JOE Canty was born in Kilfrush, Knocklong, Co Limerick, on June 20th, 1896, nicknamed ‘Kidder’, the youngest of 18 children.

His first wins were in local Donkey Derbys before being apprenticed at 15 years of age to Curragh trainer Michael Dawson, whose daughter, Lena would later become his wife.

Blessed with great hands, strength and an astute racing brain, he quickly made his mark, becoming champion apprentice three times (1912- ‘14), and soon ranked in the top echelon of riders in the country.

As good over jumps as on the flat, he was ultimately described as “the world’s best jockey” by the Aga Khan’s trainer, Hubert Hartigan.

In 1925 he established a long-standing record (not eclipsed until Charlie Swan in 1994) of 117 wins under both codes from 339 rides, a phenomenal 35% strike rate, and was, for many years, Ireland’s most successful jockey by lifetime wins.

After a couple of bad falls he was prematurely forced to pack in the jumps in 1929, concentrating thereafter on the flat.

Achievements

Two Leopardstown Chases, four Galway Hurdles, 17 Irish classics (a record for an Irish-born jockey) – including the Derby four times – and seven champion jockey titles were among his legendary achievements.

He was the first to complete the Guineas double in the same year when, in 1946, winning the 1000 Guineas on Ella Retford and the 2000 on Claro, both for his principal retainer, Hubert Hartigan.

The 1939 season was a standout one for the Canty family, with Joe partnering two classic winners for his trainer brother, Jimmy – Sea Serpent in the 1000 Guineas and Mondragon in the Derby.

Joe nominated Fred Myerscough’s The Phoenix, on whom he won the 2000 Guineas and Derby in 1943, as the best horse he ever sat on.

His last winning ride came 41 years after his first when partnering Petersome at the Phoenix Park on September 2nd, 1953. As good luck would have it, the same horse provided his son, J.M. (Joe) with his first winning ride later on at the same venue.

Joe was the outstanding figure in a dynasty of racing personalities during the 20th century. Young Joe (J.M). went on to enjoy a successful riding career and later as a trainer when his charges included the exceptional stayer Galmoy, who he trained to win his first five races, notably the John Jameson Cup at Fairyhouse, before going on to Cheltenham glory for John Mulhern.

As already mentioned, his brother Jimmy was a Derby-winning trainer, while his nephews John G. and Phil Canty (both sons of Jimmy) also made their marks.

John emigrated to the United States in 1953 and set up as a trainer in California in 1959. During the 1960s-70s he carved out a highly successful career, producing a multitude of stakes winners, the best of which, Unconscious, was sent off favourite for the 1971 Kentucky Derby.

A leading lightweight jockey for many years in Ireland, Phil partnered two classic winners, Morning Madam in the 1950 St Leger and Dark Issue in the 1000 Guineas of 1955, while turning out such as champion Irish two-year-old filly of 1985 Gayle Gal in a subsequent training career.

On retiring from the saddle, Joe trained for a few years at his home, Ruanbeg, Kildare but had little interest in that side of the game, much preferring to indulge in his other passion of poker when lively sessions of a Saturday night in the Dolphin Hotel might include such other luminaries as Joe McGrath and his trainer, Mick Collins, as well as future Taoiseach Sean Lemass.

By all accounts – like when the whips were up in a race – it was a brave (or foolish) man who took him on when the chips were down!

After a stellar career, studded with benchmark achievement, one of Ireland’s greatest ever riders, Joe Canty, passed away on March 7th, 1971 in the Jockey Hospital on the Curragh.

Glories of the Curragh by Don Kelly was inspired by a poem of that name. The book encapsulates much of the historical and sporting events and personalities associated with the renowned area. There are stories of triumphs, tragedies, glories, despairs and nostalgia. Among the weird and wonderful tales are the “legless” Grand National winner and the Newbridge grocer who trained a Royal Ascot winner.

Along with the many spectacular scenic shots, the various themes are complimented and illustrated with many photographic images of great historical and sporting interest.

Printed by Donovan Printing, the book is priced at €20 and can be ordered directly from the author by emailing donkelly40@gmail.com or call 087-3132758. Copies are also on sale in Farrell’s newsagency in Newbridge, Co Kildare. More details are available by searching Facebook for ‘Glories of the Curragh’.